The Gift of an Open Heart

Ordinary people feel tired a lot. They come to church and listen to words about a grace that has made life all right at the core. But they are often so muzzled by self-pity, so shackled by anger, and so paralyzed by their own real hurts that they cannot find the extra reserve of power to open their hearts to the reality of Jesus Christ and the fact of his grace. God needs to open the door. (Lewis Smedes)

On Sunday morning people come seeking the Inspirational, Motivational, Empowering Words.

"I know what I need," says the frazzled mother of three, "I need a shot in the arm to get me through the week."

"But by the end of the week, I need another shot. Thank God for Sunday mornings."

And a few weeks later the Inspirational Motivational Self-Empowering Drug stops working by Friday. And the next week by Thursday. And then, as the spirit and soul and body build up an immunity to the Drug, finally it's Monday. Then, one week--OMG--the feeling is gone by late Sunday afternoon.

Don't you see? We don’t need a shot in the arm.

A drug won't do at all--we need to be healed.
We need a transformation, a miracle!

Remember Jesus' words? "Come to me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." We're too tired, too totally drained, too weak to open the door to our own hearts. We need God to open the door.

We need the amazing and free gift of grace from God—

Grace so amazing that even when we’re too weary to open the door, too tired, too sad, too angry, too depressed, too frightened, feeling too guilty, too unworthy, too ordinary—even in and especially in whatever we’re going through, God embraces us and encourages us in the subtlest of way, or, sometimes, overwhelms us with an event which moves us mightily and opens our blind eyes so we can see again. Yes, God even gives us the faith to believe the miracle might be true. God opens the door. God gives us the gift of grace.

And sometimes we accept it. And that’s a miracle too.

At that very moment when we feel like we can’t cope any longer.... then we’re ripe for God’s opening move: And this is God's good news for you:

Blessed are you: poor in Spirit; bankrupt of soul; depleted, exhausted, feeble, and fruitless.... The kingdom of heaven belongs to you.